Civil society organisations (CSOs) emerged as an instrument for political mobilisation as well as for the provision of social services after the first Palestinian Intifada in 1987. Their members were political activists and many of them were initially closely associated with political parties but subsequently distanced themselves: With the signing of the Oslo accords and the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), CSOs and their elites become more independent from their constituencies as well as from political parties. CSOs came to rely increasingly on foreign donors, particularly from the EU, for funding. Their focus shifted from politics to service delivery. Despite this process of “de-politicisation” of CSOs, the PNA saw civil society as a threat to its policy of centralising power. The existence of an active and independent civil society is an important element of any democratic system. CSOs have often been very critical of the performance of the PNA and its inability to provide a model of good governance. However, CSOs themselves often do not abide by democratic principles within their own organisations. Good governance in CSOs needs to be strengthened so they can be both effective and credible in their call for democracy within Palestinian society.